Should Harry & Meghan make more of an effort with the locals in California? Take our poll

What do you think it would be like to live near Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

There doesn’t appear to be much point asking their Californian neighbours – as they say they never see them!

The exiled royals have been living in their lavish nine-bedroom Montecito estate since 2020 after quitting UK life earlier that year.

But local resident Frank McGinity experienced a chilly reception when he was turned away at the gates of their luxurious estate. He had hoped to share his films about the idyllic town’s history to help the Duke and Duchess of Sussex feel more at home.

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But security quickly dismissed him, with a curt “they’re not interested”. This frosty encounter is detailed in his memoir, Get Off Your Street, which also addresses the area’s past mudslide issues.

The 88-year-old recalled: “The gate guy turned me away and wouldn’t take the film, just saying ‘they’re not interested’. I was trying to be neighbourly. If they were interested in the neighbourhood I’ve got a lot of information.”

McGinity was surprised to learn that Meghan and Harry chose Riven Rock Estate, which typically attracts an older demographic rather than young families. He remarked, “It’s surprising they came here. People are usually older. It’s where the elephants come to die.”

In a conversation with the Montecito Journal, he added: “We don’t see them very much around here.”

Another neighbour, Richard Mineards, expressed his disappointment to The Telegraph, noting that the community is eager to see the couple more often, saying they are “waiting for them” and “gnashing at the bit.”

Meanwhile, Barry Maher voiced his frustration to the Mirror about the Sussexes’ “travelling soap opera,” criticising their choice of a “considerably pricier spot” and their lack of public appearances.